Speak the Speech

Updated 7:34 pm, Monday, March 24, 2014

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, works with Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, works with Julia Levo, the...

Mari Rooney, age 15, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Mari Rooney, age 15, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth...

Erin Carol, age 15, of Redding, works with Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, "Hamlet", "Romeo & Juliet" and "Macbeth" as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn. Carol is playing the part of Ophelia in "Hamlet".
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Erin Carol, age 15, of Redding, works with Julia Levo, the director...

Jacob Tomassi, age 14, of New Milford, plays the part of Hamlet during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Jacob Tomassi, age 14, of New Milford, plays the part of Hamlet...

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, works with an actress as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program...

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, follows the lines for Gertrude in "Hamlet" as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program...

Erin Carol, age 15, of Redding, and Jacob Tomassi, age 14, of New Milford, rehearsing for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, "Hamlet", "Romeo & Juliet" and "Macbeth" as part of their program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Erin Carol, age 15, of Redding, and Jacob Tomassi, age 14, of New...

Ellen Thome, age 16, of Redding, rehearses one of her parts in "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, "Hamlet", "Romeo & Juliet" and "Macbeth" as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn. Thome was working on the part of Gertrude in "Hamlet"
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Ellen Thome, age 16, of Redding, rehearses one of her parts in...

Alexandra Stewart, age 18, of Redding, recites from Hamlet, during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Alexandra Stewart, age 18, of Redding, recites from Hamlet, during...

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, works with an actress as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program...

Mari Rooney, age 15, of Redding, right, plays the part of Mercutio as Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, reads the lines for the part of Romeo during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Mari Rooney, age 15, of Redding, right, plays the part of Mercutio...

Mari Rooney, age 15, of Redding, plays the part of Mercutio during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Mari Rooney, age 15, of Redding, plays the part of Mercutio during...

Julia Levo, right, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, works with an Mari Rooney, age 15, of redding, as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Julia Levo, right, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a...

Mari Rooney, age 15, of Redding, plays the part of Mercutio during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Mari Rooney, age 15, of Redding, plays the part of Mercutio during...

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, works with an Alexandra Stewart, age 18, of Redding, as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program...

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, works with an Alexandra Stewart, age 18, of Redding, as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program...

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, works with an Alexandra Stewart, age 18, of Redding, as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program...

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth...

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth...

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth...

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth...

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth during rehearsals for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, plays the part of Lady Macbeth...

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, works with an Grace Hubbard, age 13, of Redding, as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn. Hubbard was working on the lines for Lady Macbeth, from the play Macbeth.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program...

Erin Carol, age 15, left, of Redding, works with Julia Levo, the director of "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, "Hamlet", "Romeo & Juliet" and "Macbeth" as part the New Pond Farm Education Center's program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn. Carol is playing the part of Ophelia in "Hamlet".
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Erin Carol, age 15, left, of Redding, works with Julia Levo, the...

Actors rehearsing for the New Pond Farm Education Center's "Speak the Speech I Pray You" a program of scenes and monologues from William Shakespeare's plays, "Hamlet", "Romeo & Juliet" and "Macbeth" as part of their program for high school actors. Monday, March 10, 2014, in Redding, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

New Pond Farm is an environmental education center and working farm in Redding that sees its mission as "connecting people with the land that enriches and sustains us all."

This year's Winter Shakespeare Acting Class aims to connect young people to the land through education.

The intensive eight-week program for high school students takes monologues and scenes of the Bard's classic plays from the page to the stage. It's titled "Speak the Speech, I Pray You," from a line in "Hamlet."

Actress and educator Julia Levo describes the excitement she sees students experience when using Shakespeare's language. They discover very deep emotions and express them in a way they wouldn't normally do while portraying his characters.